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Spirit of '76 (Marvel Comics)

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Spirit of '76
File:Spiritof76-comics.jpg
William Naslund / Spirit of '76.
Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Invaders #14
(March 1977)
Created byRoy Thomas
Frank Robbins
In-story information
Alter egoWilliam Naslund
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsAll-Winners Squad
Crusaders
Invaders
Notable aliasesCaptain America
Spirit of '76
Abilities
  • Superb hand to hand combatant
  • Brilliant athlete

As Spirit of '76:

  • Wears a cloak made of an unknown bulletproof and fireproof material

As Captain America:

  • Carries a steel shield

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Spirit of '76 (William Naslund) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Frank Robbins as part of a World War II-era superhero team named as the Crusaders, and patterned on the DC Comics group the Freedom Fighters, the character first appeared in The Invaders #14 (March 1977).[1]

Spirit of '76 was the equivalent of Freedom Fighters member Uncle Sam, originally a Quality Comics character.[2][3] The character briefly assumed the role of Captain America after the original – Steve Rogers – was presumed dead.[4] However, he was killed in action.[5]

Publication history[edit]

William Naslund debuted as a member of the short-lived superhero team the Crusaders in The Invaders #14–15 (March–April 1977), created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins.[6] In a canonical portion of a story in issue #4 (August 1977) of the alternative universe series What If?, Naslund succeeds Steve Rogers as Captain America, the first of three official replacements until Rogers resumed the role years later.[7] This retcon became necessary after Marvel's conflicting accounts of Captain America in 1950s and 1960s comics had created a discrepancy.

Fictional character biography[edit]

William Naslund was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An athletic young man, hoping to help the Allies' World War II efforts in a unique way, he develops exceptional fighting skills and learns to copy some of the moves Captain America employed with the discus-like shield that he carried. He is recruited by a mysterious man called "Alfie" to become a costumed hero in the new team of adventurers called the Crusaders, alongside Dyna-Mite, Ghost Girl, Thunderfist, Captain Wings, and Tommy Lightning. The team eventually learns that Alfie is a German agent, but not before he has manipulated them into fighting the Allied super-team the Invaders. Upon learning how they had been duped, all the Crusaders but Naslund left costumed adventuring.[8]

When the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and his sidekick, Bucky, went missing in action in 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman recruited Naslund and a young man named Fred Davis to become the new Captain America and Bucky.[9] Alongside Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Red Guardian, the new Captain America stopped a Nazi plot to destroy the Potsdam Conference.[10] They briefly fought alongside the post-war All-Winners Squad, battling Isbisa[11] and, with the Blonde Phantom, fought to prevent a criminal attempt to steal the atomic bomb, encountering a time-traveling She-Hulk during this mission.[12] Naslund was killed in 1946 in the line of duty when he was crushed to death by a robot serving the android named Adam II while warning the rest of the All-Winners Squad of Adam II's attempt to kidnap or kill then-Congressional candidate John F. Kennedy in Boston. Naslund was succeeded as Captain America by Jeffrey Mace, formerly the superhero Patriot.[13] Naslund was later brought through time by the Contemplator to battle an Adam II of an alternate world alongside the original Captain America, Jeffrey Mace, and the 1950s Captain America.[14]

Powers and abilities[edit]

William Naslund had no superhuman powers but was a brilliant athlete and a superb hand-to-hand combatant. As the Spirit of '76, he designed and wore a cloak made of an unknown bulletproof and fireproof material. As Captain America, he carried a steel shield, approximately 2.5 feet in diameter and fashioned by the U.S. government after the design used by the original Captain America.

Reception[edit]

Anubhav Chaudhry of Sportskeeda wrote, "His story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by heroes during times of war."[15] Nicholas Friedman of Comic Book Resources ranked William Naslund 18th in their "The Very Best Captain Americas" list.[16]

References[edit]

  1. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 350. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0. Search this book on
  2. "Captain America (Spirit of '76)". International Hero. July 16, 1945. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  3. Cronin, Brian (April 21, 2023). "How Many of the Characters in the Second Marvel 'Book of the Dead' Are Still Dead?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  4. Young, Andrew (March 18, 2017). "10 Characters Who Replaced Captain America". WhatCulture. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  5. Rector, Seth (May 23, 2021). "Captain America: Everyone Who Has Held The Shield, Ranked Worst To Best". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  6. Nason, Max (August 28, 2022). "Marvel: Every Character Who's Been Captain America (In Chronological Order)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  7. Dietsch, TJ (June 14, 2017). "24 Most Patriotic Characters". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  8. The Invaders #14–15 (Mar–April 1977)
  9. What If #4 (August 1977)
  10. Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual #1 (1991)
  11. All-Winners Comics #19 (Fall 1946)
  12. The Sensational She-Hulk #22 (December 1990)
  13. What If #4 (August 1977; canonical story)
  14. Captain America Annual #6 (1982)
  15. Chaudhry, Anubhav (February 22, 2023). "10 characters who have taken the mantle of Captain America in Marvel comics". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  16. Friedman, Nicholas (July 22, 2018). "Shield Of Dreams: The Very Best Captain Americas, Officially Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.

External links[edit]

Template:Captain America characters


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